The legal, academic, and Greek-American community lost a formidable advocate earlier this month. Marina Angel, Professor Emerita at Temple University Beasley School of Law, passed away on February 1, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of scholarship, mentorship, and tireless work for justice. She was 80 years old.
Born in Manhattan’s Upper West Side to Greek immigrant parents, Angel’s life was shaped by an early exposure to academia and a strong sense of social responsibility. Her father hailed from the Peloponnese, and her mother from Constantinople, roots that influenced her lifelong connection to Greece and its culture.
Angel’s academic journey took her from Barnard College, where she earned her undergraduate degree in 1965, to Columbia Law School, where she graduated magna cum laude. During law school, she worked as a law clerk for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, an early indication of the social justice path she would follow throughout her career. She later obtained an LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, further solidifying her expertise in law and policy.
Her legal career began in practice, handling major sex discrimination cases and advocating for labor rights at Gordon & Schetman, P.C. in New York. But it was in academia that Angel truly made her mark. She started teaching at Hofstra University in 1971 before joining Temple University Law School in 1979, where she would remain until her retirement in 2017. Over nearly four decades, she educated and mentored generations of law students, teaching courses in criminal law, labor and employment law, juvenile justice, and women’s legal rights.
Angel’s scholarship was groundbreaking, particularly in the fields of gender equality and workplace justice. She was one of the first legal scholars to document the extent of sexual harassment by judges, an issue rarely discussed at the time. Her work also analyzed how gender stereotypes shaped responses to violence against women, influencing legal and policy debates for decades. With over 40 published works, her influence extended beyond the classroom and into broader discussions on law and society.
Her contributions were recognized through numerous awards, including the prestigious Sandra Day O’Connor Award in 1996, which honors legal professionals who advance women in the law, and the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, recognizing her distinguished career in teaching, service, and scholarship. She also received the national American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award in 2004, an honor bestowed upon trailblazers in the legal profession.
Beyond her academic work, Angel was deeply engaged in mentoring and advocacy. She advised student groups at Temple, including the Women’s Law Caucus, Hellenic American Law Students, and LGBTQ+ students. She was an active member of bar associations and legal organizations, serving on committees that worked to advance gender and racial equality in the profession. She also chaired the Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Women Law Teachers, fostering support networks for women in academia.
Angel maintained strong ties to her Greek heritage and was a dedicated member of the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia. In an interview with Cosmos Philly, she shared insights into her career and the values that guided her lifelong advocacy. She volunteered with the Ladies Philoptochos, continuing her lifelong commitment to service outside the legal field.
Watch the interview with Marina Angel:
Her passing is deeply felt by those who knew her as a professor, mentor, colleague, and friend, but her influence endures through the students she guided, the legal advancements she championed, and the countless professionals she mentored. Relatives and friends will gather to honor her life at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral on February 19, 2025, reflecting on a career dedicated to justice and equality.
In a profession where barriers for women and minorities remain, Angel’s work continues to resonate. Her legacy in legal scholarship, mentorship, and advocacy serves as an enduring reminder that progress is built on dedication and courage, inspiring future generations to continue the fight for justice and equality.